Neuropsychological Aspects of Aging and Driving for Inclusive Automotive Interior Design

As people grow older, their cognitive functions undergo changes which may result in uncomfortable driving situations and even increase the risk of accidents. This research aims to understand the neuropsychological aspects of healthy aging and their possible relationship in changes in motor performance or ability. The research methodology is descriptive and includes a collection of basic studies in the scope of neuroscience, driving tasks, and older driver behavior. The final analysis points to certain changes in the functioning of the cerebral cortex and its connections as being responsible for poor performance in some basic driving tasks, but which can be compensated for by means of adapted mechanisms in motor vehicles. This study may contribute as a methodological tool, to the automobile design process, for the selection of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) or other emerging technologies which can compensate cognitive changes, improve safety, comfort and inclusion of older drivers in the future of automobile interior design. We conclude that in normal aging, people may present some cognitive deficits especially linked to the frontal and parietal lobe, which interfere with the necessary driving skills albeit not with the dangerous ones and can be compensated by technological solutions. The main innovation of this article is related to the bibliographical compilation and critical analysis in terms of identifying the neuropsychological aspects of normal human aging and car driving and its relationship with possible contributions from vehicular technology, as well its consider future trends in automotive interior design that should be analysed with caution in order to users inclusion.

AB095. Development of an assessment system of driver visual behaviours on a car simulator

Background:(I)To describe the development and components of the automobile simulator driving behavior evaluation system developed by CRIR-Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille;(II)to present the preliminary results of the content evaluation of the driving behavior evaluation grid.Methods:The evaluation system consists of five components:(I)the VS500M Car Simulator(Virage Simulation);(II)four VS500M driving scenarios,modified to minimize the occurrence of simulator sickness and expose subjects to commonly encountered driving situations on highways and city boulevards;(III)the Tobii Pro Glasses 2 eye tracking device;(IV)a car simulator driving behavior observation grid(DBOG);(V)a software application used during the behaviour evaluation phase,where synchronized video tracking,certain data from the simulator(e.g.,speed)and the DBOG grid are presented.Initially,the expected safe driving behaviors were identified,including 235 of a visual nature,supported by literature data and consultation of the project steering committee and an expert in driving assessment.Driving behaviors were assessed in 22 subjects without visual impairment(mean age 55±20 years).Subsequently,the items were revised to determine their relevance based on their importance in terms of road safety or on the frequency with which behaviors were observed among participants.For analysis purpose,the items of the DBOG were grouped according to their content,by type of expected driving behavior(e.g.,following a stop,look to the left and right before crossing the intersection)or element to be detected(e.g.,pedestrians).Results:Some visual behaviors are difficult to observe with the eye tracker device because they are more dependent on peripheral than central vision.Others are rarely observed,possibly because they are little or not realized in daily life or the representation of reality on the simulator does not stimulate their adoption.On the other hand,the visual detection behaviors expected in a situation where safety can be compromised are mostly carried out(e.g.,detection of oncoming vehicles,side mirror verification when changing lanes).Conclusions:This first phase of the study has made possible to better target the items to be kept in the car simulator driving behavior observation grid,and those that will have to be removed as they are too difficult to observe or too rarely adopted by the participants.Content validity and inter-rater reliability will be assessed from the simplified grid.

What Kind Of Cars Do DPRK People Drive?

The DPRK has been a mystery country in the world.And people have been wondering what are behind its government's recent policy:the State began confiscating cars and small buses Japan-based auto makers produced.The policy took effect in the end of last year. This policy brought people an in-